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In May, three well-known journalists received death threats following critical coverage of the second round of national elections. CPJ sources said the threats were linked to reports carried by the independent radio station Radio Ndeke Luka and the independent daily newspaper Le Citoyen that armed forces had intimidated voters at polling stations. The journalists targeted were Zéphirin Kaya and Patrick Akibata of Radio Ndeke Luka; and Maka Gbossokotto, managing editor of Le Citoyen.

President François Bozizé promulgated a law that decriminalized most press offenses, including defamation and "insult." But the law, which was welcomed by local journalists' groups, maintained criminal sanctions for offenses such as inciting criminal activities and provoking ethnic or religious hatred.